Metropolitan area employment and unemployment, December 2011

Over the year, nonfarm employment rose in 32 of the 36 metropolitan areas with annual average employment levels above 750,000 in 2010.

In December 2011, unemployment rates were lower than a year earlier in 329 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 36 areas, and unchanged in 7 areas.

Ten areas recorded jobless rates higher than 15.0 percent, while 24 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in December was 8.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.1 percent a year earlier.

In December, 66 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 110 areas a year earlier, while 125 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 71 areas in December 2010.